From Individualist Power Drummer to Supportive Team Player
Peter Lau is a well known Recycler, Mountain-biker, Drummer in the Roger Wang Trio and one of the most innovative Compact Drum Kit Makers ever. Some 15 years ago Roger Wang approached Peter, asking him to drum “quieter”. Peter didn’t settle for simply drumming softer, he came up with a whole new drum kit design that also got substantially smaller. Through the years Peter Lau has created countless incredibly innovative compact drum kit designs. Most, if not all of his drum kits can be carried in one trip from vehicle to venue.
The DIY spirit Peter displays is inspiring. As is the innovative use and re-use of various items incorporated in his creations. Sit back, enjoy and let this collection of Peter Lau’s Innovative Compact Drum Kits inspire your own inner DIY creativity.
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Bass-Throne
The ultimate in minimizing the footprint of a drum kit has to be making the bass drum double as the throne. Note the DIY remote bass drum pedal and single headed snare drum. (Left)
Sideways Pedal
How about the DIY sideways Bass pedal on this one? Every part of the kit is mounted to the bass “drum”. (Right)
Audience-facing beater
Another great idea Peter has come up with is having the beater face the audience, so they can see more of the drumming. Also noteworthy is the shallow snare drum and bass “drum” port. (Left)
Triangular bass
A variation of the audience-facing beater, this time with a triangular bass “drum”. (Right)
Downwards Pedal
A couple variations of a super compact drum kit design that tears down into a small pile…
Small pile
…and tucks into the bass drum…
Bass-case
Robot drum kit
Yet another triangular bass drum but with a new angle on the orientation and a completely unorthodox arrangement altogether.
Compact Duo
A duo of ultra-compact drum kit innovations
Laundry-time
After viewing a few of Peter’s rather unusual configurations, this kit almost looks regular. Note the pedal attachment/spur.
Built-in stick
One of the “drums” on this one has it’s own built-in drumstick! The little tambourine-like gadget makes a nice hat-substitute.
Boxtail kit
Here we have a “boxtail” drum kit with a DIY remote hi-hat pedal and a tambourine pedal.
Collection
An entire collection of Peter Lau’s innovative and creative compact drum kits.
DIY Hoops
Incredibly sleek configuration with a downwards beating pedal.
Shell-in-a-shell
Another variety with a downwards beating pedal and with a drum-shell within a drum-shell design. Note the DIY hoop design that is one of the identifiers of a “Peter Lau Original”.
Same but not
Same concept – smaller size
Pray to the drums
Here’s a slick little floor kneeling set-up. Perfect for praying to the drum gods.
Triangular
Another angle of the triangular style bass drum with the audience facing beater. Note the bass pedal configuration.
“Boxtail”
Peter has designed numerous “box tail” style kits. Here’s another one with a DIY remote Hi hat stand.
Boxtail & remote hats
Yet another boxtail drum set with remote hi-hats and a set of chimes.
Note the left pedal
Highly unusual drum set design with a foot pedal operated “wood block” of sorts.
Peter Lau gigging
Peter Lau gigging his triangle bass drum, mini drum kit. Here you can see how the beater is visible to the audience.
Audience facing
The audience facing beater again from a slightly different angle.
Drumtar?
Handheld drum kit played kind of like a guitar. Perfect for bringing to a small jam.
Remote bass pedal
DIY remote bass pedal operating a drum-in-a-drum.
Sewer-pipe drums
Made from sewer pipe, this kit sorta’ borrows some aspects from yamaha’s “HipGig”.
Sewer Pipe Special
Genius use of sewer pipe in super-compact, yet traditional layout drum kit
Sewer pipe variation
Another innovative creation made from sewer pipe. This one a bit less traditional.
“Opposed Pyramids”
One of Peter’s most recognized kits, the “Opposed pyramids”. Note the closed mini hats.
Pyramids
The pyramids from the driver’s seat. Aesthetically balanced yet provokingly unorthodox.
Bass drum on top
The opposite drum kit with the bass drum up top, operated by another DIY remote bass drum pedal, using an automotive clutch cable.
Snare-in-bass
The tiny snare drum resides inside the bass drum. This one also operated with a DIY remote bass pedal.
Drums in a drum
Here the snare and bass drums share a mutual shell.
Slim-style
Slim-style, drum kit with a unique “low-hat” configuration.
Sideways Slim-style
Another slim-style. This time sideways with dual bass drum ports. Ultra compact portability with a full-size bass head.
Sideways drum kit
Slim-style sideways of a different variety. Single bass port and dual “heads”.
Ultra-compact
Here’s a sideways oriented, super-compact drum kit with a box shaped bass drum and a single-headed snare drum
Snare in bass
Not quite as slim, but still sideways. This one features the snare drum integrated in the bass drum shell
Ultra-thin
Thinner than an LCD TV with an audience facing beater and the “low-hat” re-appearing
Thinline
Driver’s side view of the “thin line”. Note the quite unusual snare drum set-up.
The “un-cocktail” kit
A whole new take on the cocktail drum kit. Stand up like a cocktail kit, but with a sideways configuration and all rigged up on a single stand.
Peter playing
Three of Peter Lau’s creations played by the innovative drummer himself
Micro “bass” drum
Sub-miniature micro-kit with a DIY cocktail “bass” pedal and integrated drum stick
Vari-pitch
Last but not least, here’s a “vari-pitch” cocktail kit. Who says effects pedals are just for the guitarist? There seems to be no end to Peter’s creativity. Just when you think all options are exhausted and there are no possible combinations left, somehow Peter comes up with an entirely new concept in compact drum kits. I had a blast putting together this compilation of some of the creations crafted so far and look forward to many more inspiring innovations from Peter Lau in the future.